Capsule-Based system for preparing and dispensing a beverage

ABSTRACT

A beverage dispensing system that can dispense both cold and hot drinks from either cold drink capsules or hot drink capsules. The cold or hot drink capsule is inserted into the system, and the lid is manually closed. if a cold drink capsule has been inserted, a mechanism cracks the capsule along a predetermined seam, injects cold mixing fluid into the capsule, and then rotates the capsule to pour out or further flush out the cold drink into a cup. If a hot drink capsule has been inserted, the lid is closed, and a rotating needle pierces the top of the capsule. The capsule is then punctured from the bottom. Hot water can then be injected into the top of the capsule, and the hot drink can be removed from the bottom into a cup.

Parent application Ser. Nos. 16/002,091, 14/828,067, 14/536,142 and13/293,043 are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties

BACKGROUND Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to beverage dispensing systemsand more particularly to a complete beverage dispensing system that candispense both cold and hot drinks.

Description of the Prior Art

There are a number of devices and techniques for dispensing a beveragesuch as, for example, a cup of coffee or tea from a capsule. In oneapproach a disposable container fits on top of a cup and has acompartment for receiving a beverage extract such as coffee with a largereservoir on top into which a person must pour boiling water. Thesedevices can be disposable but expensive, the coffee is exposed to theair where it can easily get stale or contaminated, and they are notgenerally suitable for automatic coffee making or other beveragemachines. Because the flow rate of beverage is generally slow, thesedevices are typically large relative to the volume of beveragedispensed. Also, these devices can be designed to be used upright andonly the bottom area is available for filtration flow and thiscontributes to the slowness of the filtration

process. In one construction, a filter is provided in a sealedreceptacle and a support member is included intermediate the receptacleand filter which functions to support the filter. When the filter iswetted, it sags and conforms with the support member which has a hole init to release the filtered beverage but otherwise blocks the output ofthe filter. Such a filter design used in an application where water isinjected under pressure would provide low flow rates.

There are several known companies offering proprietary capsule basedmachines in the coffee and tea space, including Nestle's Nespresso andSpecial T, Green Mountain Coffee Roaster's Keurig, Starbucks Verismo,Kraft's Tassimo, Sara Lee's Senseo, Nescafe's Dolce Gusto, Illy,Lavazza's Blue and Britta Yource. Mars Flavia and Esio are machinesutilizing a pouch-style single use dispensing system. Additionally,there are several known companies operating single serving drinkmachines in the commercial environment, including PHSI's Interpure,Waterlogic's Innowave, Vertex's Charm, Keurig, Nestle and Mars Flavia.

Currently, there are other machines attempting to commercialize asimilar capsule/pod based single-serve point of use cold beveragesystem. For example, Omnifrio, acquired by Primo Water, uses a puncturemechanism, which punctures the top and bottom of the capsule allowing asyrup concentrate to drain out. Bevyz uses a pressure mechanism to popopen the capsule to enable a mixing process. The Esio Hot & ColdBeverage System uses a syrup pouch system and pumps drink mix out of thepouch to mix it with water outside of the packet. Yource by Brita uses acapsule based machine.

When cold drinks are dispensed in a system in which the beverage isprepared by mixing cold fluid, usually water, with a powder instead of aliquid concentrate, one significant challenge is that the powder willnot dissolve effectively during the mixing process. This can lead topoor quality output from the beverage system and unsightly and possiblyunhealthful residue in the machine itself. Improved systems forproviding a hot, cold, ambient temperature, carbonated, still mixedbeverage designed to enable the effective mixture of the powder with theliquid during dispensing providing for little or no residue,contamination, or cross contamination between beverages are described inU.S. application Ser. No. 13/293,043, U.S. Provisional Application No.61/411,786, and International Application No. PCT/US2011/060050, all ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference. The present disclosuredescribes an additional embodiment for providing mixed beverages.

In addition, there is no machine or system in the prior art that candispense both cold and hot drinks. It would be highly advantageous tohave a single beverage dispensing machine that can receive either a hotdrink or a cold drink capsule, process the capsule and dispense thedesired hot or cold drink. While the hot and cold drink capsules can beidentical in shape and size, it is advantageous to have them ofdifferent shapes and sizes. Maintaining the familiar hot drink capsule(such as the well-known coffee capsule used by Green Mountain Keurig)readily identifies it from the cold drink capsule used by LaVit LLC.This prevents mistakes by the user and makes it easier for the system toidentify whether a cold drink or a hot drink is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a complete hot and cold beveragedispensing system. It is a machine with a compartment adapted to receivea drink mix capsule and a control panel that can display messages to acustomer and allow the customer to choose drink options. The presentinvention also comprises a beverage preparation mechanism or sub-systemto totally control the mechanical portion of hot and cold beveragepreparation.

To dispense a beverage, a user approaches the machine, places a colddrink capsule or a hot drink capsule into the compartment, closes thelid, and selects the type of drink on the control panel (or theselection may be made automatically by the system based on the type ofcapsule inserted).

If the selection and capsule represent a cold drink, the machine opensthe capsule when the machine cover is closed. An upper nozzle injects asmall amount of cold liquid to mix with and dissolve (or dilute) thecontents. A second nozzle begins to fill the vessel (cup) below an exitorifice. Simultaneously, an internal mechanism rotates the capsuleapproximately ninety degrees to empty the contents of the capsule intothe vessel. The cold drink capsules can contain a powder or a liquidwhich is mixed into the filtered water to produce the cold beverage. Thedrinks can be “house formulas” or common mass market branded beverageslicensed from the manufacturers.

The cold drink capsule is opened by cracking and peeling. This method ofaccessing the capsule offers an effective and efficient way to prepareand deliver the beverage. A mechanical device is adapted to crack thecapsule along a crease punched into the capsule below the top cover ofthe capsule. The mechanical device peels open the capsule along thecracked crease typically when a user closes the lid. For example, aslight crease could be included in a lip of the capsule or directlybelow it that can be used to break the seal and allow the cover to thenbe peeled or pried back. As stated, when the cover is peeled back (e.g.,tearing open the capsule) the drink is mixed with a mixing stream ofliquid, which in many embodiments will be water, either cold or hot,sparkling or still.

If the selection and capsule represent a hot drink, the capsule ispunctured by a needle on the bottom by closing the lid. Closing the lidof the machine forces the hot drink capsule down on the needle. Aninjection needle arm rotates a needle into position that penetrates thelid of the capsule. A hot liquid is injected into the hot capsule tobrew or mix the hot drink. The hot drink is forced out of the hole inits bottom by pressure via a hot drink spout into a cup. The hot drinkcapsule can contain powder, grind (such as ground coffee) or a liquidwhich is brewed or mixed with injected hot liquid such as hot filteredwater.

A purpose of the present invention is to offer a compelling alternativeto bottled water and other water based ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages.The invention is meant to offer a convenient, reliable, and costeffective Point of Use solution to the consumer's hydration and beverageneeds, both hot and cold. The invention is a single-serve beveragesystem that can produce unlimited chilled filtered water as well assingle serve unique beverages through a cold capsule-based system. Thepresent invention can dispense carbonated, flavored, enhanced, ultrapurified filtered waters and flavors, hot coffee, hot and cold tea, hotchocolate and numerous other beverages both hot and cold.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Attention is now directed toward several drawings that illustratefeatures of the present invention:

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the complete hot and cold beveragedispensing system.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show one embodiment of a typical cold capsule.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of the controller and other drivencomponents of the system.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a hot/colddispensing mechanism.

FIG. 5A shows a side sectional view of the hot/cold dispensing mechanismin a neutral or starting configuration with a cold capsule inserted.

FIG. 5B shows a side section view of the hot/cold dispensing mechanismwith a hot capsule inserted and the injection needle half-way deployed.

FIG. 5C shows a perspective view of the mechanism of FIG. 2B with theinjection needle fully deployed.

FIG. 5D shows a bottom perspective view of the hot/cold mechanism.

FIG. 6 shows a side sectional view of the hot/cold mechanism with thecover partly closed.

FIG. 7. shows a side sectional view of the hot/cold mechanism with thecover completely closed.

FIG. 8 shows a side sectional view of the hot/cold mechanism with thecover completely closed as the pouring frame begins to rotate the coldbeverage capsule.

FIG. 9 shows a side sectional view of the hot/cold mechanism with thecover completely closed with the pouring frame at the maximum rotatedposition.

FIG. 10 shows a side sectional view of the hot/cold mechanism with thecover open in the neutral configuration with a hot beverage capsule ork-cup inserted.

FIG. 11 shows a side sectional view of the hot/cold mechanism with thecover partially closed and the hot capsule sitting on the bottom needle.

FIG. 12 shows a side sectional view of the hot/cold mechanism with thecover totally closed so that the bottom needle has punctured the bottomof the hot capsule.

FIG. 13 shows a side sectional view of the hot/cold mechanism with thecover totally closed while the Injection needle rotates over the hotcapsule.

FIG. 14 shows a side sectional view of the hot/cold mechanism with thecover totally closed and the injection needle piercing the top of thehot capsule.

FIG. 15 shows a front view of the hot/cold mechanism.

FIG. 16 shows a left view of the hot/cold mechanism.

FIG. 17 shows a right view of the hot/cold mechanism.

FIG. 18 shows a rear view of the hot/cold mechanism.

FIG. 19 shows a top view of the hot/cold mechanism.

FIG. 20 shows a bottom view of the hot/cold mechanism.

FIGS. 21A, 21B and 21C show three isometric view of the hot/coldmechanism in different positions.

FIG. 22 shows a cross-section of an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention where the top of a hot capsule is pierced before the bottom.

FIGS. 23-27 show the sequence of events during the dispensing of a hotbeverage with the embodiment of FIG. 22.

Several drawings and illustrations have been presented to aid inunderstanding the present invention. The scope of the present inventionis not limited to what is shown in the figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention comprises a complete hot and cold beveragedispensing system. It also comprises a beverage preparation mechanism orsub-system that can be inserted and removed from a housing to totallycontrol the mechanical portion of hot and cold beverage preparation.

An embodiment of a total beverage dispensing machine or system is shownin FIG. 1 and includes an outer housing (200) with a cover (201)containing a cold and hot water or other liquid supply, a controllerthat controls all aspects of beverage preparation and dispensing and thebeverage preparation mechanism that actually dispenses the drink. Thecontroller is in electrical communication with one or more user controlpanels (201) where messages can be displayed to the user, and the usercan select various beverages. Selections may also be made with buttons(203). In some embodiments, selection of a cold or hot drink is madesolely on the basis of what type of capsule is inserted. Typicalselections can be cold drinks such as fruit drinks, lemonade, otherflavored cold drinks and the like, while hot beverages can includecoffee, tea, hot chocolate and the like. The processor can be amicrocontroller known in the art, a microprocessor, or any other type ofprocessor or computer configured to store and execute storedinstructions. The controller typically includes on-board and externalmemory. In some embodiments, the controller may have communicationcapability and be able to communicate status and receive commands over anetwork like the Internet.

Both hot and cold beverages are supplied in sealed capsules. Coldbeverage capsules (or simply cold capsules) are typically roughlydiamond-shaped cups with a rim that seats a sealed lid. The cups cancontain either powder or liquid cold drink mixes. Each cold capsuletypically has a groove, score or indentation either on the rim ordirectly below the rim. When the capsule is captured by the machine andpressed downward by the user closing the machine lid, the cold capsulecan be opened by allowing the rim to encounter a protrusion on one ofits ends. The upward force of the protrusion against the rim as thecapsule rotates or moves downward causes part of the rim to tear openalong the groove providing an opening where cold liquid can be injectedinto the capsule causing the mixed cold drink to exit the capsule andfill a cup below the mechanism. A typical embodiment of cold capsulesare similar to capsules supplied by LaVit LLC of New York for their coldbeverage dispensing systems (see pending U.S. patent application Ser.No. 13/293,043 published as 2012/0231126 by some of the same inventorsas the present invention). FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a typical coldcapsule.

The hot capsules are similar to the familiar cups supplied by for coffeedispensing by several vendors. For the present invention, the hotcapsules can contain other products besides just coffee including tea orhot chocolate for example, or any other hot drink.

Returning to FIG. 1, a view of an embodiment of the system of thepresent invention can be seen. The housing (200) includes a base (300)and an access lid or cover (201) that allows insertion of a cold or hotcapsule. A control panel (201) is also mounted on the housing (200) thatallows a user to select and command preparation of a beverage. Thehousing (200) contains all necessary components including plumbing,liquid heating, control and sensing as well as a hot/cold beveragedispensing module or mechanism.

FIG. 2A shows a typical cold capsule (302) with a rim (305) and lid(303). A protrusion (301) pries the rim (305) open when the capsule isforced to rotate downward while being captured with a fixed member(304). FIG. 2B shows the pried open cold capsule (302). While FIG. 2Bshows the capsule being opened at both ends, a preferred way of openingthe capsule is to open it only at one end. Either opening technique iswithin the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows schematically the controller (203) which can be solid statecontroller chip known in the art. The controller (203) is electricallycoupled to the control panel (202) which can be a touch panel, LCD panelor any other control panel of any type. The controller (203) is aprocessor that executes stored instructions that, in addition to readingand writing the control panel (202) also controls one or more drivemotors (204) that are typically part of the mechanical drink preparationmodule (205). The controller (203) can command the drink preparationmodule (205) to either prepare and dispense a cold beverage or toprepare and dispense a hot beverage depending upon the user selection.The control panel (202) can display a message to insert the propercapsule in the preparation mechanism and to close the cover. Thecontroller (203) can also receive an instruction about the size of thecup placed under the device and hence provide the correct amount of coldor hot fluid. In some embodiments, the controller (203) receives sensoror camera information as to what type of capsule has been inserted andproceeds to prepare a cold or hot drink. In the case of a camera, thecamera can read a label or barcode on the capsule.

Usually, the cold or hot fluid is filtered water; however, it does nothave to be water. Other fluids may be used with some drinks. Inparticular, for some cold drinks, the fluid can be carbonated water. Anyfluid is within the scope of the present invention. The controller (203)can also control various pumps (206), heaters (207), and valves (208).In addition, it can read the temperature of the hot injection liquidwith a temperature sensor (209). The controller (203) temperature sensor(209) and heater(s) (207) can operate in a closed-loop configuration.Finally, in some embodiments of the present invention, the controller(213) can read a sensor or camera (210) located near the capsuleinsertion point to determine whether a cold capsule or hot capsule (orany capsule) has been inserted. The sensor (210) may include two or moresensors, one to determine if anything at all has been inserted, andanother to determine whether a cold or hot capsule has been inserted.There may be a camera (212) to read a label or barcode on the capsule.These may be infrared LED sensors or any other type of sensor. Furthersensors (211) can optionally determine whether the cover is open orclosed (seated) and the position of rotating members in the hot/colddispensing module. If the cover is in the wrong position, the controller(203) can place an error message on the control panel (201).

The actual preparation and dispensing of the cold or hot beverage ishandled by an insertable hot/cold dispensing mechanism or module thatwill now be described in detail.

Hot/Cold Dispensing Mechanism

The present invention deploys an insertable beverage dispensing moduleor mechanism that can dispense cold beverages using the sealed capsulepreviously described and can dispense hot beverages using capsulessimilar to standard capsules known in the art for dispensing coffee. Thecold beverage capsules may contain a powder or liquid mix for any colddrink; the hot capsules may contain a powder mix for any hot drinkincluding coffee, tea and hot chocolate, or any other hot drink.

The present invention handles both cold and hot beverages by using anunique mechanism adapted to manipulate both types of capsules. When acold drink is desired, the user inserts a cold drink capsule into themechanism and closes the machine lid. The shape of the cold drinkcapsule, and the manner in which it is seated in the mechanism causes itto be pried open when the lid is closed by being pushed downward againsta protruding part as previously described. Cold liquid such as water orother cold liquid can then be injected into the capsule mixing andforcing the contents out and producing a cold drink.

When a hot drink capsule is inserted in the mechanism, closing themachine lid does not open this type of capsule since it is shapeddifferently. However, it does press the hot capsule down on a bottompuncture needle making a hole in the bottom of the hot capsule. Aninjection needle arm then rotates from a vertical rest position to ahorizontal position over the hot drink capsule causing an injectionneedle to puncture the top of the capsule. Hot liquid can then be forcedor injected into the hot drink capsule under pressure to produce a hotdrink. The brewed or mixed hot drink is forced out of the bottom hole orbottom needle to a hot spout from where it flows into a cup.

Turning to FIG. 4, a perspective view of an embodiment of a hot/colddispensing mechanism can be seen. This mechanism, or head, fits into thedrink dispensing machine previously described in place of acold-drink-only mechanism. The mechanism of FIG. 4 includes an upperhousing (1), and a lower housing (3) that are joined to form a singlehousing. A cover or lid (22) is attached so that it can pivot closed oropen on rear pins or hinges. The cover (22) is typically biased closed,but can be easily opened and closed by hand.

The mechanism includes a vertical, substantially cylindrical cavity (29)in its center, that when the cover (22) open, is configured to receiveand hold either a cold drink capsule or a hot drink capsule. A smallprotruding lip or frame (5) allows the capsule to seat snugly, butremovably in the cavity (29). The lip (5) also prevents insertion ofeither type of capsule upside-down. A hot drink capsule is typicallytaller than a cold drink capsule. It thus sits lower in the cavity (29).This provides a way to identify the difference between the two types ofcapsules with a sensor, camera or other technique. Also, capsules mayhave bar codes or other readable indicia indicating what type of capsulethey are and what type of drink they contain.

The cover (22) cooperates with the upper housing (1) and is coupled witha pair of links (20) to a ram frame (18) which also pivots downward andis used to force cold drink capsules open in order to open them, and toforce hot drink capsules down onto a bottom puncture needle.

FIG. 5A shows a side sectional view of the mechanism of FIG. 4. Thecover (22) pivots open and closed on hinge pins (30) on each side thatattach the cover (22) to a link base (2). The link base (2) is mountedon the lower housing (3) that provides a pedestal for the cover (22).The cover (22) is coupled with a link bar (20) to the ram frame (18)that also moves downward when the cover (22) is closed. FIG. 5A shows acold capsule (31) seated in cavity (29). In this case, when the cover(22) is closed by a user, the link bar (20 a) forces the ram frame (18)down on to the cold capsule (31). The cold capsule (31) moves downwardand rotates against a protrusion (shown in FIG. 2A), and is forced open.

It can be seen in FIG. 5A, that the cavity (29) is not simplycylindrical, but has a lower cylindrical part (32) and a tapered,conical upper part (33). The upper part (33) is adapted to receive andhold a cold capsule of the type previously discussed. The lowersubstantially cylindrical part (32) is adapted to receive and hold a hotcapsule, which being of smaller diameter and different shape from thecold capsule, seats lower than a cold capsule. The bottom of the cavity(29) has a vertical needle (25) used to puncture the bottom of a hotcapsule when the machine cover (22) is closed.

When a hot capsule is used, after the cover (22) is closed and thebottom of the hot capsule has been punctured, an injection needle armrotates from a stationary vertical position to a horizontal positionover the hot capsule which causes an injection needle (24) to puncturesthe top of the hot capsule. This can be seen in FIGS. 5B-5C. In FIG. 5A,the injection needle (24) can be seen attached to an injection hose (28)in a horizontal or rest position. This is its starting or rest positionwhere the injection needle arm (9) is in the vertical position. FIG. 5Bis a side sectional view of the mechanism with a hot capsule insertedand the injection needle (24) half-way deployed. FIG. 5C is aperspective view of the mechanism with the injection needle (24) fullydeployed and sealed against the top of the hot capsule.

Turning to FIG. 5B, the injection arm (9) can be seen attached with afirst drive link (10) and second drive link (11) through a pivot (34).An injection arm (9) is attached to a partial gear (17). When thepartial gear (17) is caused to rotate through an angle, the injectionneedle (24) rotates continuously from the rest position shown in FIG. 5Ato a final position shown in FIG. 5C where it has punctured the hotcapsule. FIG. 5B shows the injection needle (24) half-way through therotation cycle. The partial gear (17) is driven with a smaller drivegear (8) that is coupled to a drive motor (not shown). As the motorrotates the drive gear (8), the partial gear (17) makes a partialrotation causing the injection needle arm (9) to move from the verticalposition to a horizontal position over the hot capsule (27) causing theinjection needle (24) to puncture the hot capsule top.

FIG. 5C shows a top-side perspective view of the mechanism with theinjection needle (24) fully deployed. In this configuration, theinjection needle (24) has punctured the hot capsule, and hot liquid canbe injected into the capsule through the injection hose (28). Themechanism that drives the injection needle includes a link base (2) andan armature mount (6) which provide support for the injection needlerotation sub-system. The first drive link (10) can be seen attached tothe partial gear (17). The injection arm (9) is attached to the partialgear (17) (shown in FIG. 5B). It can be seen in FIG. 5C that the partialgear (17) and hence the drive gear (shown in FIG. 5B) are locatedlaterally at the approximate center of the assembly.

Turning to FIG. 5D, a bottom perspective view of the mechanism can beseen with the cover (22) in the closed configuration. The lower housing(3) is attached to the upper housing (1), and the cover (22) pivotsbetween an open and closed position. The closed position is shown inFIG. 5D. On the bottom of the assembly, a hot spout (4) and a coldbeverage orifice (35) can be seen. At the lower back of the assembly,there is a motor mount (13) that holds the drive motor (not shown). Thedrive motor directly drives the drive gear (8) which is coupled to thepartial gear (shown in FIG. 5C). A mounting bracket (7) is used to mountthe drive gear (8).

As previously stated, the present invention can dispense both cold andhot beverages. The sequential process employed for both situations willnow be examined step-by-step.

Cold Beverage Dispense

Returning to FIG. 5A, the dispensing mechanism can seen in section in astatic or resting configuration with the cover (22) open. The cover (22)is coupled to the ram frame (18) through a link bar (20) The ram frame(18) is fully raised. A cold capsule (31) of the type previouslydescribed is shown inserted into the dispensing cavity (29). The coldbeverage capsule (31) has a rim that allows it to seat high in thecavity (29) which in the partially conical upper region (33).

FIG. 6 shows the mechanism as the user is closing the cover (22). Thecover's downward travel has caused the ram frame (18) to pivot downwardonto the capsule (31) through the action of the two link bar (20) andthe pivot (36) capturing the capsule.

FIG. 7 shows the mechanism as the user finally pushes the cover (22)totally closed. This final push causes the cold capsule (31) to pry openalong a scored seam on its rim or directly below its rim because theouter edge of the capsule rim abuts a protrusion (shown in FIG. 2A) asthe capsule body is pressed downward as has been previously described.The pod frame (16) is a rotating member that pries the cold capsule intoan open configuration.

FIG. 8 shows the mechanism after the cover (22) is closed and the coldcapsule (31) has been torn open. The entire pod frame (16) along withthe ram frame (18) rotates forward to prepare for dispensing the coldbeverage. A motor, typically a stepper motor, and other drive gears (notshown) rotate the cold capsule (31) into an emptying position.

FIG. 9 shows the mechanism after the pod frame (16) has completelyrotated the cold capsule. This is the cold beverage dispenseconfiguration where contents of the cold capsule (31) are dispensed whena stream of cold liquid such as water is injected into the body of thecold capsule (31). The ready-to-drink cold beverage dispenses out of thebottom of the assembly through an orifice directly into a cup through acold drink exit orifice (35).

After the cold beverage is dispensed, the system rotates back to theoriginal neutral position. The user can dispose of the spent coldcapsule (31) upon opening the cover (22). In some embodiments, anadditional mechanism (not shown) forces the spent cold capsule (31) intoa disposal area.

Hot Beverage Dispense

FIG. 10 shows a side sectional view of the mechanism with the cover (22)completely open and a hot beverage capsule (27) inserted into the cavity(29) Since the hot capsule (27) is more nearly cylindrical than the coldcapsule (although slightly conical), its rim does not extend out as faras the rim on a cold capsule, and it tends to seat lower in the cavity(29). There is a bottom needle (25) under the hot capsule (27) that willpuncture the bottom of the hot capsule when the cover (22) is fullyclosed. The injection needle (24) is in a neutral or rest position, andthe ram frame (18) is raised.

FIG. 11 shows the mechanism as the user closes the cover (22). The ramframe (18) has rotated downward in response to the linkage (20) andrests on top of the hot capsule (27) capturing it. The hot capsule (27)is sitting on the bottom needle (25), but the bottom needle has not yetpierced the capsule.

FIG. 12 shows the mechanism with the cover (22) completely closed. Theforce of closing the cover has caused the ram frame (18) to press thecapsule (27) down onto the bottom needle (25) forcing the bottom needleto puncture the bottom of the capsule (27). The system is ready to brewthe hot beverage.

FIG. 13 shows the next step as the drive motor (not shown) begins toturn the drive gear (8) which turns the partial gear (17). This causesthe injection arm (9) to pivot forward bringing the injection needle(24) toward the top of the hot capsule (27).

FIG. 14 shows the injection needle (24) piercing through the top of thehot capsule (27) as the injection arm has reached its lowest position.The drive gear (8) and partial gear (17) have reached the end of theirallowed rotation and have stopped. Hot liquid may now be injected underpressure into the hot capsule (27) through the injection needle (24). Aninjection needle seal (23) seals the injection needle (24) to the top ofthe hot capsule (27) preventing leakage during the injection. The hotdrink now brews or mixes. It is forced out through the hole in thebottom of the hot capsule and is dispensed into a cup through a hotspout (4) (shown in FIG. 5D and FIG. 20).

After the hot beverage is dispensed, the user (or the next user) candispose of the spent hot capsule (24) after opening the cover (22).

Views of Outside of Hot/Cold Dispense Mechanism

FIGS. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 show the outside of the hot/colddispense mechanism from each primary direction. FIG. 15 shows a frontview. FIG. 16 shows a left view. FIG. 17 shows a right view. FIG. 18shows a rear view. FIG. 19 shows a top view. FIG. 20 shows a bottomview.

Turning to FIG. 15, a front view of the hot/cold mechanism is seen. Thecover (22), ram frame (18) and injection needle (24) are visible. Thecover (22) is shown in the open position.

FIG. 16 shows a left view of the mechanism. The cover (22), link (20)and pivot (34) can be seen. The pin hinge (30) allows the cover (22) topivot. The opening frame (5) and the opening pod frame (16) are alsovisible. To open the cold capsule, or press the hot capsule down on thebottom needle, the opening pod frame (16) rotates from the horizontalposition shown in FIG. 16 to a vertical position. The rotation is arounda pin (37).

FIG. 17 shows a right view of the mechanism. Again, the cover (22) andlink (20) can be seen. A special partial gear assembly (38) driven witha different motor causes the pod frame (16) to rotate as has beendiscussed in order to allow the contents of a cold capsule to bedispensed.

FIG. 18 shows a rear view of the mechanism. Here the cover (22) is seenfrom the back side and closes downward and away from the point of view.The injection needle drive gear (8) can be seen through a slot in therear of the lower housing.

FIG. 19 shows a top view that mostly includes the cover (22), while FIG.20 shows a bottom view. The hot spout (4) and the cold orifice (35) canbe seen. Also, in the rear of the unit is the drive motor mount (13),the injection needle drive gear (8) and the partial gear (17). Finally,the injection hose (28) can be seen exiting the top rear of the housing.

FIGS. 21A-21C show three perspective views of the mechanism in threedifferent positions. Most of the features previously described can beseen. Of particular interest is the pod frame (16) that rotates to openthe cold capsule while the ram frame (18) acts to restrain the it. Alower pouring frame holds the cold drink parts. This lower pouring frameis driven by the lower gear (38) to rotate forward to allow the coldbeverage to dispense. The upper pouring frame (19) rotates to seateither type of capsule.

Particular embodiments of the present invention can be equipped with asensor that determines whether a cold capsule or a hot capsule has beeninserted into the mechanism (or that anything has been inserted). Thissensor can be coupled to the controller so that if the user has insertedthe wrong type of capsule for his or her selection, the machine candisplay an error message and not actually dispense the beverage or causedeployment of the injection needle onto a cold capsule. In the case ofan error, the user can be given a chance to either remove mis-insertedcapsule and discard it, or to correct his or her selection to match theinserted capsule. Because when the cover (22) is completely closed, acold capsule has been torn open, or the bottom needle has penetrated ahot capsule, it is not possible to remove a mis-inserted capsule and useit later. If it is removed, it should be discarded.

In a different embodiment of the present invention, the hot dispensingis configured so that the top of the hot capsule is punctured by theinlet needle before the bottom is punctured by the outlet needle.

Turning to FIG. 22, a cross-section of this embodiment may be seen. Thehot capsule (27) is seated in cavity (29) In a manner similar topreviously-described embodiments. The capsule (27) sits on a carrier(50) that is spring-loaded upward by a carrier spring (51). The cover(22) is open. An outlet needle (25) is located under the capsule (27).An inlet injection needle (24) is shown in a retracted position awayfrom the capsule (27).

FIGS. 23-27 show the sequence of preparing and dispensing a hot drink.In FIG. 23, the cover (22) has been closed. A ram frame (18) forces thecup carrier (50) and capsule (27) partially downward against the carrierspring (51). The outlet needle (25) remains below the capsule (27) anddoes not puncture the capsule.

In FIG. 24, a motor-driven arm (11) begins to rotate the inlet injectionneedle (24) toward the top of the capsule, while the outlet needle (25)continues to remain below the capsule (27). The arm (11) is driven bygears which are coupled to a motor.

In FIG. 25, the inlet injection needle (24) punctures the top of thecapsule (27) as the arm (11) reaches an approximately horizontalposition. The outlet needle (25) is still below the bottom of thecapsule (27) and has not yet punctured it.

In FIG. 26, the motor-driven arm (11) begins to force the capsule (27)further downward against the spring and onto the outlet needle (25). Theplastic capsule bottom (54) can deflect slightly before piercing occurs.

In FIG. 27, the capsule bottom (54) is punctured by the outlet needle(25) at the bottom of the capsule carrier stroke. Hot liquid can then beinfused into the capsule through the inlet injection needle underpressure to produce the hot drink. The finished hot drink can beconveyed out of the bottom of the capsule though the outlet needle (25)and dispensed to a cup through a hot orifice as in other embodiments.

After the dispensing is complete, the motor-driven arm (11) returns tothe vertical position shown in FIG. 22. The capsule carrier is forcedupward by the carrier spring (51) to the position shown in FIG. 23.Finally, as the cover (22) is opened, the spent capsule is furtherforced upward by the carrier spring (51) to the position shown in FIG.22 where it can be manually or automatically removed.

Several descriptions and illustrations have been presented to aid inunderstanding the present invention. One with skill in the art willunderstand that numerous changes and variations may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. Each of these changes andvariations is within the scope of the present invention.

We claim:
 1. A beverage dispenser that dispenses a brewed or mixed hotbeverage or a cold beverage comprising: a housing with a cover; acontroller in said housing; a water heater and water temperature sensorin the housing in communication with the controller, the controllerconfigured to raise water temperature in closed-loop operation toprovide hot water for injection at a temperature sufficient for hotwater brewing or mixing; a capsule receiving apparatus in the housingconfigured to receive either a cold drink capsule or a hot drinkcapsule, the capsule receiving apparatus operably coupled to a capsulemanipulation member adapted to open an inserted cold drink capsule whenthe cover is closed, or force an inserted hot drink capsule downwardtoward a bottom puncture needle when the cover is closed; a hot waterinjection needle on a rotating arm adapted to be used when a hot capsuleis inserted by first puncturing a top surface of the inserted hotcapsule and then forcing the hot capsule downward onto the bottompuncture needle, the hot water injection needle adapted to infuse thehot water into the inserted hot drink capsule under pressure producingthe brewed or mixed hot beverage; a cold water streaming system adaptedto be used when a cold drink capsule is inserted to stream apredetermined quantity of cold water into the inserted, opened colddrink capsule causing its contents to dissolve or mix; the capsulemanipulation member also adapted to rotate the inserted cold drinkcapsule approximately ninety degrees after its contents have dissolvedor mixed causing said contents to pour into a vessel; the cold waterstreaming system also constructed to stream additional cold water intothe vessel as said contents pour into the vessel producing the coldbeverage.
 2. A beverage dispenser adapted to dispense a cold drink froma capsule by opening the capsule and injecting a cold fluid into itmixing its contents, and then pouring the contents into a vessel whileinjecting further cold fluid into the vessel to produce the cold drink;and also adapted to dispense a hot drink from a capsule by firstpuncturing the capsule's top, then puncturing the capsule's bottom, andthen injecting a hot liquid into the capsule's top, and subsequentlywithdrawing the hot drink from the capsule's bottom into a vessel.